Daniel Brühl, who played three-time World Champion Niki Lauda to great critical acclaim, has been shortlisted in the Best Supporting Actor, while the film’s stunt ensemble has also been nominated.

The SAGs are the first of the major pre-Oscar Award nominations to be confirmed, and – while typically not the greatest predictor for Oscars success – are still a significant recognition for the independently-funded film, which enjoyed its worldwide release earlier this year.

The film – which cost $38 million to make – grossed over $90 million worldwide.

Brühl will be competing against the likes of Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips), Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave), Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) and the late James Gandolfini (Enough Said) for the Actor Award.

It is Brühl’s second SAG nomination, having previously been shortlisted in the Ensemble Cast category in 2009 for Inglorious Basterds.

The SAG Award winners will be be announced on January 18.

Nominations for the Golden Globe Awards – which will serve as a useful predictor for the film’s like success in Hollywood’s ‘awards season’ – will be announced on the morning December 12 (US time).